The Philip B. Petersen Collection Broadcast September 6, 1989

     The Boy Scout Motto is "Be Prepared" and over 36,000 Boy Scouts were prepared to journey to Fort A. P. Hill, near Fredricksburg, Virginia, to attend the Boy Scout National Jamboree.  They came from every state in the union and from 35 foreign countries.  Over 400 of them were also licensed radio amateurs.  The official Boy Scout amateur radio station is K2BSA and they were on the air night and day using eight transmitters sending messages and greetings back home and to many other radio amateurs and Boy Scouts around the United States and many countries overseas.  K2BSA was very busy but I was able to talk with three of the boys on the air.  Tony came from Canton, Ohio, where the Football Hall of Fame is located.  The FCC examinations for amateur radio licenses were being held at the Jamboree and Dave, NØJIX of Preston, Minnesota and Greg of East Lansing, Michigan were very elated for they had, a few minutes earlier, passed their Advanced and Extra class licenses.  Many others had obtained special merit badges.
     They were having a great time learning new experiences and making new friends.  That same day, President George Bush addressed the Boy Scouts.  The Jamboree week came to a close all too soon.  But before they meet again at the next Jamboree in four years, those Boy Scouts who are also radio amateurs will have several opportunities to talk with their friends via amateur radio during the International Jamboree on the Air that is held on the third weekend in October each year.
     I will never forget my youth as a Boy Scout.  I remember so well the hiking, camping and many good times we had.  I also still remember the character teachings, such as the Scout Oath: On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.  Then there was the Scout Law: A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.  Of course, we cannot forget the Scout Slogan, "Do a good turn daily."
     Yes, I know that we couldn't always live up to all of the high ideals of scouting.  We did learn much that would always be helpful through the rest of our lives.
     We were encouraged to learn more by studying to earn merit badges on all kinds of subjects, such as Communications, First Aid, Radio, Aviation and Boating to name a few.
     Some of us liked to send and receive signal flag messages from one hilltop to another by day and use Morse code flash light signals at night.  I believe that this created an interest in communications that caused three of us, in our troop, to become radio amateurs.

September 6, 1989

** Broadcasts recordings preserved and presented here by Mr. Robert Buss and Mr. Bernie Ricciardi, Phil's friends and fellow Marconi Chapter 138 QCWA members **

Page updated January 12, 2004  page created June 11, 2001